WHITTIER – Music has always been her passion, but trying to coax young people into appreciating the classics and opera is Olivia Tsui’s specialty.

“The challenge, in terms of keeping classical music alive, is that we need a new audience,” Tsui said. “Most of the time when you go to a concert hall to hear classical music, you see most of the audience has gray or white hair.

“I want them to bring their children, their grandchildren. That’s the future.”

A well-known violinist, Tsui last summer was named conductor and music director of the Glendale Symphony, becoming its first woman conductor and its youngest in the orchestra’s 82-year history.

She also is the current concertmaster for the Rio Hondo Symphony.

“It was a great honor for me to accept this position. It’s has been a wonderful experience,” she said. “But it’s a challenge, as well.”

To attract younger audiences to symphony and opera performances, Tsui has sought to inject visual elements. At a recent performance of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” she invited four principles to play one movement of a solo part. She also included a verbal recitation of sonnets.

Later in the concert, she included Astor Piazzolla’s version of the “Four Seasons,” which included “Argentinian Tango.”

“My idea is to not only make our programming acoustically interesting and exiting, I try to introduce something visually exiting as well,” Tsui said.

In December, Tsui’s arrangement of “The Nutcracker” included ballet dancers.

“It’s a different world today than it was 25 years ago,” said Wayne Reinecke, conductor of the Rio Hondo Symphony. “It’s difficult to get young people in concert halls.

“I found her to be very innovative.”

Tsui began playing the violin at age 4 in China, where her grandfather taught the piano. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, a master’s from San Diego State University, and an artist diploma from Cleveland Institute of Music.

She has won several awards as a violinist, but conducting has always been an ambition.

“I’ve had so much first-hand experience as a musician, I know what the musicians need,” she said.

She started pursuing conducting by studying in New York and then at various workshops. Tsui has been guest conductor with orchestras in Mexico and Bulgaria.

“She is an immaculate player, has a beautiful sound,” Reinecke said. “She has very innovative ideas and excellent skills as a conductor.”

In the months to come, Tsui will travel as a guest conductor to Bulgaria and then to Florida. She hopes to help bring people together with her music.

“I see musicians like musical ambassadors. My idea is, there are so many divisions in this world, all this war and fighting, and as a musician I feel it is our duty to unite the people,” Tsui said. “I want everybody to be welcome, no matter your religion, your ethnic background, your profession or age.”